Charest could win the next election for the Conservatives, Poilievre can’t
After remaining neutral in the past two Conservative leadership campaigns, former party leader and prime minister Stephen Harper recently announced his support for Pierre Poilievre. Harper’s breaking of a long-standing protocol—former leaders don’t interfere in current leadership campaigns—is perplexing, especially because Poilievre doesn’t seem to need his help. I have a few theories about this […]
Conservatives need to vote wisely this time around
Back in 2020, I had my letter to the editor published in The Hill Times, titled “O’Toole leadership win would be victory for Trudeau.” I argued that former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole was not sufficiently moderate to win. I believe that my prediction was proven correct when O’Toole lost last year’s election, and was almost […]
‘For the sake of party unity’ Harper should not have publicly endorsed Poilievre, says former cabinet minister LeBreton
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s unique decision to step into the fray of the Conservative leadership and endorse Pierre Poilievre last week attracted national attention, and has caused some of his former cabinet members to publicly question their former party leader and ex-prime minister. Former government Senate leader Marjory LeBreton said she was disappointed with […]
Harper endorsement of Poilievre victory ‘mic drop’ or ‘strategic’ move for win, says former PM’s senior aide
Former prime minister Stephen Harper’s endorsement of Conservative leadership front-runner Pierre Poilievre has one of Harper’s former senior aides scratching his head about the timing of the video-push Harper gave Poilievre on Facebook and Twitter on July 25. “I don’t think anybody was surprised by the subject of the endorsement, but they might have been surprised […]
Climate change is the greatest existential threat facing mankind, but you wouldn’t know it from the Conservative leadership race
TORONTO—The world seems to be on fire this summer as record-breaking temperatures are causing death and destruction on every continent. Unless the world acts with much greater determination, the future can only get worse, with climate change the greatest existential threat facing mankind. This is why the need to act now is urgent and Canada […]
All federal parties need to improve their leadership and nomination processes or risk losing credibility
In almost every nomination or leadership election, political parties have faced allegations from their own candidates of playing favourites or of making unfair decisions behind closed doors. But transparency and fairness are the two key ingredients of any legitimate nomination or leadership contest. Thanks to Elections Canada, our general elections are held to the highest […]
Conservative Party shuts off money transfers to Brown campaign without specifying why, claims Brown’s campaign manager Mykytyshyn
The Conservative Party has suspended money transfers to disqualified leadership candidate Patrick Brown’s campaign without specifying why, claims the Brown campaign, but a party spokesperson says it has explained the reason and won’t disclose it right now. According to the Conservative Party’s leadership election rules, money raised by leadership candidates first goes to the party […]
If Conservatives fail to win next federal election, party would split, say some Conservatives
If the Conservative Party fails to win the next federal election—its potential fourth loss under a fourth leader—the party would split up or would need a serious reworking, say some Conservatives. “I’m a member of the Conservative Party, a strong [member of] the Conservative Party, and I want the Conservative Party to win the next […]
Do Conservatives want to finally change things, or continue being perennial losers? A response to Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin
TORONTO—Marjory LeBreton and Tasha Kheiriddin correctly note that the Conservative Party of Canada is going through an existential crisis. But, in this author’s opinion, their recommendations are all wrong. It all goes back to Brian Mulroney. He may be one of the most disappointing prime ministers that Canada has ever had. Although he won two […]
Poilievre’s platform offers scant details on foreign policy positions
OTTAWA—The problem for Conservative leadership candidate front-runner Pierre Poilievre—once he takes over the party after the race results are in and gets set to run for the prime minister’s job—will be to balance the payback expected by the far-right populists who got him there, against the policies of pragmatism expected by the rest of us. […]
